Google Maps' Historical Street View Imagery Now Available on iOS

[MacRumors]

Google Maps' Street View is 15 years old today, and to celebrate, Google is rolling out the ability to view historical imagery when using the service on iOS and Android.

When in Street View mode, users can access the historical imagery by first tapping anywhere on the photo to see information about the location, and then selecting "see more dates" to access the current location's historical imagery.

Google says the feature can show imagery dating all the way back to the launch of Street View in 2007, albeit in locations where it was available at the time. The ability to display historical imagery has been available on the desktop version of Google Maps since 2014, but this is its debut on the mobile app.

Coinciding with Street View's 15th anniversary, Google has also announced that it will deploy a new camera next year to capture more high-quality images in harder to reach places.

In addition to our Street View car and trekker, we're piloting a new camera that will fully roll out next year to help us collect high-quality images in more places. This new camera takes all the power, resolution and processing capabilities that we've built into an entire Street View car, and shrinks it down into an ultra-transportable camera system that's roughly the size of a house cat. But unlike house cats, it's ready to be taken to remote islands, up to the tops of mountains or on a stroll through your local town square.

Google says the new camera weighs less than 15 pounds, allowing it to be shipped anywhere, and it's designed to be modular so that components like lidar can be added to collect imagery with even more helpful details, like lane markings or potholes. The camera can also be attached to any vehicle with a roof rack and operated via a mobile device. "You'll start seeing our new camera in fun Google colors alongside our iconic Street View cars and trekkers next year," says Google.

Google is also taking the anniversary of Street View to again highlight its upcoming new Immersive view for cities. Immersive view uses artificial intelligence and high-quality 3D rendering to simulate real-time data, and the feature is set to launch later this year.

Article Link: Google Maps' Historical Street View Imagery Now Available on iOS

 

[Sandstorm]

Awesome, really love to see progress/changes over the years. Was wondering why this was only available on desktop.

 

[kirky29]

Google seems to updated all the roads around me last year except mine! Mines from 2009

 

[pavelbure]

Doesn’t work anywhere around me. Guess it’s only in certain areas.

 

[maxfromdenmark]

I’m personally on the 3 places photographed by Google in the world. The last one yesterday in Stockholm ?

 

[MozMan68]

They've only ever taken one image of the streets around me...and from back in 2011. ?

(and yes...a lot has changed since then).

 

[contacos]

Haha in Germany the latest ones are from 2008 anyway

 

[GeoStructural]

I’m personally on the 3 places photographed by Google in the world. The last one yesterday in Stockholm ?

Both of my parents appear on Google Street View! My mom sitting in the front porch, my dad walking nearby, we often joke about that hahaha. By the way, for some time the faces were not blurred and you could see clearly who it was.

 

[RickDEGH]

Haha in Germany the latest ones are from 2008 anyway

There was an Edeka shop missing near where I lived - only showed the empty plot. Apple Maps had it. I had to tell Google to add the place.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

… By the way, for some time the faces were not blurred and you could see clearly who it was.

😳 that’s not supposed to happen!

 

[Eric_WVGG]

Interesting choice of photos. Was the query “places to commit suicide in Manhattan”?

also why does that say 11th St, the Vessel is nowhere close to there

 

[alexandr]

I’m personally on the 3 places photographed by Google in the world. The last one yesterday in Stockholm ?

My car remains parked on the UES while I'm in FL — it's magic

 

[biffuz]

My previous car was taken by both Google and Apple, parked in the same spot. Google also got me.

 

[SilenceBroken]

Google seems to updated all the roads around me last year except mine! Mines from 2009

Mine is from 2012... and shows nothing but forest as that's what it was at the time.

Ironically I was behind an Apple Maps van back in 2018.

 

[GeoStructural]

? that’s not supposed to happen!

Exactly, it took Google some time to blur faces, license plates and other identifying features around the world (my parents do not live in the USA).

When the Street View feature debuted, it was a game changer, amazing, but many stories came up about people being creepy or identifying spouses in unwanted situations, Google then took measures to prevent that.

 

[axcess99]

They picked to feature a structure that is likely to be permanently closed due to suicide concerns (and actual events).

 

[nylonsteel]

still not compelled to use aapl maps over google maps

 

[aries81]

Haha in Germany the latest ones are from 2008 anyway

Was about to say this. Hooray for paranoia

 

[DblHelix]

Google Maps' Street View is 15 years old today, and to celebrate, Google is rolling out the ability to view historical imagery when using the service on iOS and Android.

When in Street View mode, users can access the historical imagery by first tapping anywhere on the photo to see information about the location, and then selecting "see more dates" to access the current location's historical imagery.

Google says the feature can show imagery dating all the way back to the launch of Street View in 2007, albeit in locations where it was available at the time. The ability to display historical imagery has been available on the desktop version of Google Maps since 2014, but this is its debut on the mobile app.

Coinciding with Street View's 15th anniversary, Google has also announced that it will deploy a new camera next year to capture more high-quality images in harder to reach places.
Google says the new camera weighs less than 15 pounds, allowing it to be shipped anywhere, and it's designed to be modular so that components like lidar can be added to collect imagery with even more helpful details, like lane markings or potholes. The camera can also be attached to any vehicle with a roof rack and operated via a mobile device. "You'll start seeing our new camera in fun Google colors alongside our iconic Street View cars and trekkers next year," says Google.

Google is also taking the anniversary of Street View to again highlight its upcoming new Immersive view for cities. Immersive view uses artificial intelligence and high-quality 3D rendering to simulate real-time data, and the feature is set to launch later this year.

Article Link: Google Maps' Historical Street View Imagery Now Available on iOS

Doesn’t seem to be working for me. Every location I check only shows up to 3 months of nearby photos even checked the location pictured. Just updated to the latest version of maps on my iPhone.

 

[dk001]

Google seems to updated all the roads around me last year except mine! Mines from 2009

What on earth did you do to piss Google off?

 

[MozMan68]

still not compelled to use aapl maps over google maps

....and there it is!

 

[dreyp82]

....and there it is!

Haha

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

"...in fun Google colors..."

Dear Google, The Wiggles want their colours back.

 

[Mizouse]

Didn’t even know this was a thing on desktop. Time to take a walk down memory lane.

 

[jav6454]

Didn’t even know this was a thing on desktop. Time to take a walk down memory lane.

Same here. Several placed I'd like to remember how they were before several changes.